As one of the few black students at her private schools, Zoë explains she wrestled with embracing her beauty because white kids poked fun of her hair and made her “feel weird.” But life experiences, the harsh reality of racism, and having a woke father encouraged the 28-year-old to feel connected to her roots and history. She explains:

“The more I experience life, I am identifying more and more with being black and what that means — being more proud of that and feeling connected to my history… And now I’m so in love with my culture and so proud to be black.”

In spite of playing racially ambiguous characters — such as boho yoga teacher and wife Bonnie Carlson on HBO’s Big Little Lies — and being labeled “exotic” because of her features, Zoë Kravitz isn’t exempt from all that comes with being a black woman in America.